Outside tube-cleaner.



J. OGG.

OUTSIDE TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED D30. 9, 191a.

Patented June 30, 1914.

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I IIII A'AMMA MN NV %Nm$\% w m W1TNESSES:

ATTORNEY J. 0%, OUTSIDE TUBE CLEANER I APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9, 1913.

Patented June 30, 1914.

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HIM Z? Illl Illll 15 mm H M I L 0.,WASHINGTON u c JAMES OGG, OF PAI-IALA, TERRITORY OF HAWAII OUTSIDE TUBE-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 39, 1914.

Application filed December 9, 1913. Serial No. 805,492.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES OGG, subject of the King of England, residing at Pahala, in the province of Kau and Territory of Hawaii, have invented new and useful Improvements in Outside Tube-Cleaners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tube cleaners, and particularly to a device for cleaning the outside surfaces of tubes of such apparatus, for instance, as evaporators.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical power-driven tube or flue cleaner, adapted for external adjustment over the tube or flue to be cleaned or scraped for the purpose of cleaning the outside of the tube, and to provide meansfor supplying a fluid under pressure to the rotor, which latter is incased in an annular chamber or casing having fixed direction vanes or nozzle members.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the flue with the cleaner mounted thereon and shown in longitudinal central section. Fig. 2 is an end view of the cleaner partly in section. Fig. 3 is a view showing the parts in disassembled position and in section. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the device.

represents aportion of a flue or tube 1 The invention comprises a cylindrical cas ing or shell 8, the rear end of which is provided with a thickened portion forming a comparatively wide internal annular flange 4. The internal diameter of flange 4 is SUflIlcient to allow it to slip over and along the tube 2. The thickened end 4 of the casing 3 has longitudinally extending screw-threaded perforations 5 which lead to a distributing duct or annular chamber 5 formed on the inner wall of the flange 4. An annular series of pipes 6 tap into holes 5 and are con nected to a manifold plate or hollow disk 7 having a fluid pressure chamber 7 connected at 7 with any suitable source of fluid supply under pressure.

9 is a removable annular nozzle plate circumferentially fitting the inner surface of the shell 3, and resting on flange 4 and forming a wall for groove 5, and which nozzle plate 9 is provided with a multi plicity of substantially spiral or oblique passage ways 10 through which the motive fluid is diverted, directed and discharged in an oblique direction of travel from the annular distributing duct 5 to and against the i'otor 11 constructed and arranged as fol- OlVSI 12 is a sleeve which passes through the flange 4 of the casing 3 and projects beyond the flanged end thereof and is provided with external screw-threads to receive a lock nut 13 which screws up against the end of easing 3 and holds the sleeve and its parts in position. Thenut 13 is perforated coincidentally with the perforations 5 in the thickened end of easing 3, to pass the pipes 6: The nut 13 of course being screwed on before the pipes are connected. The opposite end of the sleeve 12 has a slight annular shoulder 14 adapt-ed to be drawn back against the face of the nozzle plate 9 for holding the same in solid position against the inner grooved wall (5) of the flange 4.

The sleeve 12 is further provided with an enlargement or flange portion 15, the rear edge of which is grooved to provide a seat for a set of anti-friction bearings 16 which are held up by a follower nut 17 the latter being threaded externally at 18 to fit the rotor or turbine wheel 11. The circumference of the turbine wheel 11 has a snug running fit with the inner surface of easing 3.

The turbine wheel 11 consists substantially of an annulus or ring with a plurality of appropriately formed obliquely arranged discharge passageways or vanes 20, preferably arranged at an angle opposite to the angle of the nozzle passages 10 of the nozzle plate 9, so that the motive fluid issuing from the nozzle plate will impinge upon the oppositely inclined surfaces 20 of the turbine @wheel and react thereupon to rotate the turfbine wheel upon its supporting sleeve 12. The sleeve 12 is provided with an interior bOI'G or suitable diameter to freely pass over the tube or flue 2 and the scraping and clean ing of the tube is accomplished as the turbine wheel 11 revolves by a plurality of pivoted scraping dogs or blades 21, pivoted on the outer face of the wheel 11, see Fig. 4. The blades are loosely pivoted upon longitudinally extending, circumferentially spaced pivot pins 22, runner or turbine wheel 11; the several scrapers being held against longitudinal mounted in the face of the movement upon their respective pivot pins by a ring washer 23 passed down over the ends of the pins 22, and a cotter pin or other fastening means 2st.

in order that the scraper blades 21 may bear with variable pressure and thus aut0 ma tically yield in their scraping engagement upon the surface to be cleaned, I have shown them as of substantially L-shaped form, utilizing the short arm of the scraper as the scraping member and making the longer arm of the scraper heavier for the purpose of utilizing the centrifugal force thereof to rock the scrapers 21 about their bearing pins 29, to bring the scraping edges down upon the surface to be cleaned while the rotor or wheel 11 is revolving. Thus, should any of the scrapers engage a very solid resistance while revolving around the surface to be cleaned, they may automatically yield and again instantly return into scraping engage- ,ment, due to the centrifugal action of the weighted ends, throwing the scraping edges into operative position. The ball-bearing rest or amb nut 17 is locked against circumferential movement with relation to rotor 11, after being adjusted, by any suitable means, not shown.

Tn operation, the assembled device is adjusted over the tube or cylinder to be cleaned and a motive fluid under pressure is admitted to the manifold head 7, which is connected to the pressure chamber or duct 5', of the casing 35, where it is discharged through I the nozzle ring 9 against the turbine wheel 11. and by the rotation of this carry the scraper blades at the desired speed circumferentially about the surface to be cleaned and remove the deposits or accumulations therefrom.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patcut is 1. A tube cleaner, consisting of a cylindrical body to slip over a tube, said body carrying an internal sleeve member, an annular rotor mount-able on the sleeve member, an annular nozzle ring on the sleeve, a fluid pressure chamber delivering fluid through the nozzle ring to the rotor, scrapers carried by the rotor, a manifold disk, and pipes connecting the chamber and the manifold disk with said fluid pressure chamber for delivering fluid pressure thereto to operate the rotor, substantially as described.

2. The combination of an annular cylindric-al casing adjustable over a fine to be cleaned and having a fluid discharging duct, a nozzle ring in the casing with fluid directing passages, an annular turbine coaxial with the casing and driven by the fluid directed through the nozzle ring, the turbine wheel having on its face a plurality of centrifugally operated scraping blades adapted to be thrown into engagement with the surface along which the cleaner may be moved, and about which the blades will be revolved at high speed.

3. A sc aping device for cleaning the exterior surfaces of cylindrical bodies,comp1'ising an annular casing adapted. to encircle the body and having a chamber for a motive fluid, means in the casing for discharging the fluid in oblique paths, a turbine wheel adapted to encircle the body and having passages arranged in oblique lines oppositely to those in said means, said turbine wheel carrying a plurality of centrifugally actuated scraper members eugageable with the surface to be scraped and carried eXt-erim'ly around the same by the rotating movement of the turbine wheel.

4. A scraping device for cleaning the exterior surfaces of cylindrical bodies, comprising an annular casing with a chamber for a motive fluid, means in the casing for discharging the fluid in oblique paths, a turbine wheel with passages arranged in oblique lines oppositely to those in the nozzle member, antifriction bearings interposed between the turbine wheel and its support ing part of the casing, said turbine wheel carrying a plurality of centrifugally actu' ated scraper members engageable with the surface to be scraped and carried around the same by the rotating movement of the turbine wheel, said scrapers pivoted between their ends and the scraper end of each scraper being lighter in weight than the opposite end.

5. The combination in a rotary scraper for cleaning cylindrical exterior surfaces, of a head or chamber for containing fluid under pressure, an annular chambered casing, conductors forming rigid connections between said head and the casing, whereby the latter may be reciprocated, anozzle structure arranged within the casing for discharging the motive fluid therefrom at an angle to the axis of the casing, a bushing externally chambered to fit over the cylindrical body to be scraped and having a shoulder engaging the nozzle member for holding it in place in the casing, and a lock nut for fastening the bushing, said bushing having a race-way, a set of anti-friction ballbearings, and a follower nut therefor to hold the same against the race-way in the bushing, a turbine wheel in which the follower nut is mounted and having angular passageways into which the motive fiuid is directed from the nozzles, and reacting scraping devices mounted upon the end face of the turbine wheel for scraping engagement with the surface to be cleaned.

6. The combination in a rotary scraper for cleaning cylindrical exterior surfaces, of a head or chamber for containing fluid un der pressure, an annular chambered casing, conductors forming rigid connections between said head and the casing, whereby the latter may be reciprocated, a nozzle struc ture arranged within the casing for discharging the motive fluid therefrom at an angle to the axis of the casing, a turbine wheel having angular passage-ways into which the motive fluid is directed from the nozzles, and reacting scraping devices mounted upon the end face of the turbine wheel for scraping engagement with the surface to be cleaned, said scraping devices being substantially Lshaped, the longer arms of the devices acting under centrifugal force to throw the scraping edges into engagement with the surface over which they revolve.

7. A tube cleaner including a member which is adapted to encircle the tube, a rotor also adapted to encircle the tube and having cleaning means mounted thereon, and means to supply motive fluid to the rotor consisting of a plurality of pipes which extend exteriorly and longitudinally of the tube and are connected at one end to said member, and a manifold connected to the opposite ends of said pipes.

S. A tube cleaner including a hollow memher which is adapted to encircle the tube, nozzle means within said member, a rotor adapted to encircle the pipe revolubly borne by said member and having cleaning means, and means to supply motive fluid to the noz zle means.

9. A tube cleaner including a chambered carrier which is adapted to encircle the pipe, a rotor which is also adapted to encircle the pipe revolubly carried by said carrier and having cleaning means which operate on the pipe exterior, and means to supply motive fluid to the carrier chamber.

10. A tube cleaner including a carrier and a member rotatably connected thereto each of which is adapted to encircle the tube, and a series of scrapers disposed so as to extend exterior of the tube and transverse of the length of the latter and pivoted between their ends to said member whereby the outer ends of the scrapers, due to centrifugal force move outwardly with relation to the tube and cause the inner ends of the scrapers to act on the tube periphery.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES OGG. Witnesses:

DAVID J AMISSON, LAURENCE C. PALMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

